Laura Deck, Bookshare Communications, Author at Bookshare Blog

Published March 17, 2016

Benetech Showcases Leading Edge Literacy Initiatives at 31st Annual CSUN Conference

Assistive technology — whether it’s a mobile app or a modified wheelchair — can transform the lives of people with disabilities. The latest in the field of assistive technology will be the focus of the world’s largest gathering of people who develop or use assistive technology, taking place at the 31st Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference from March 21-26 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The “CSUN Conference,” as it is known in the industry, is organized by California State University, Northridge’s Center on Disabilities. It provides a unique opportunity for people with disabilities to have…

1 Comment

Published March 3, 2016

It Only Takes One Good Book to Get Hooked on Reading

At Bookshare, we have a saying that “it only takes one good book to get hooked on reading.” This month we are celebrating special reading events and award-winning literature for 2016 to help members find a treasure trove of good books: Happy birthday to one of our favorite authors, Dr. Seuss, on March 2 National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is a national initiative to spread the joy of reading to children and young adults The 2016 Youth Media Awards, presented by The American Library Association, recognize outstanding works of literature as well as authors and illustrators 2016 Youth Media…

Leave a Comment

Published January 18, 2016

Bookshare Takes You to Hallowed Ground for Black History Month

African-American history can be viewed through many lenses. The people, events, time frame, and historic places have all contributed to the tapestry of our nation’s story. Today, as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let’s also reflect upon the theme for February’s Black History Month: Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories. From the “stations” on the Underground Railroad and the uprising at Harper’s Ferry, to the integration of Little Rock Central High School and the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, these places are deeply embedded in the narrative of African-American history. We invite you to…

1 Comment

Published January 4, 2016

Get On Board with Unified English Braille

Braille, the ingenious system of six dots invented by Louis Braille almost 200 years ago in France, has meant literacy to millions of blind and visually-impaired individuals around the world. Since braille represents living languages, periodic modifications are necessary to reflect changes in languages and to keep braille vital and contemporary. In the United States, English Braille, American Edition (EBAE) has been the predominant braille code. To keep U.S. braille consistent and up to date with the braille code used for international English, Unified English Braille (UEB) has been adopted as the official U.S. braille code. UEB is being implemented…

2 Comments

Published December 17, 2015

‘Tis the Season to Cherish a Book

Bookshare is your headquarters for winter reading The Bookshare team is making a list and checking it twice – a list of books, that is. One of the best gifts you can give – or receive — this holiday season is a good book. And if it’s part of the Bookshare collection of over 375,000 titles, no wrapping is required. Wherever your travels take you this winter, take some books along. You can enjoy the books your friends have been talking about, such as the Hunger Games trilogy, the Maze Runner series, Harry Potter-themed titles, Percy Jackson and other works by Rick Riordan, and the beloved Magic…

Leave a Comment

Published December 14, 2015

Advancing Literacy Outcomes for Children with Disabilities in India

By Terry Jenna, Bookshare International Program Manager Benetech’s mission is to serve communities in need by creating scalable technology solutions. As the operator of Bookshare, we are working diligently to extend our reach across borders to the international community. While technological breakthroughs are creating new opportunities and lowering barriers for society as a whole, the sad truth is that millions of individuals with disabilities around the world are still left behind. This is a particular reality for students in the developing world who cannot read traditional books due to blindness and other print disabilities. They grapple with formidable challenges as…

Leave a Comment

Published December 8, 2015

The Future Is Now: Bookshare and CSEdWeek Prepare Students for 21st Century Careers

“Computers are going to be a big part of our future…and that future is yours to shape.” President Obama Technology is all around us and an integral part of our everyday lives. And we know that whatever field students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. In fact, employment in all information technology occupations is expected to increase by twenty-two percent through 2020. But only a fraction of students today are learning computer science and even fewer students are studying it than a decade ago. Closing the Gap Computer…

Leave a Comment

Published December 1, 2015

Why We Are #Thankful

The Bookshare community is amazing. It’s over 370,000 people strong with an even larger cast of parents, teachers, and supporters. They live in over seventy countries and read more than a million and a half books every year. They dream big, accomplish great things, and live life to its fullest. The holiday season is a time for thanks, and we at Bookshare are thankful for this community. Let’s meet some of them. Lily loves to read, especially books about horses. She didn’t always like reading though. In fact, Lily disliked it because of her dyslexia. That changed when she started using Bookshare, and…

Leave a Comment

Published November 24, 2015

A New Perspective on Literacy for Students with Low Vision

By guest author Allison Hilliker Imagine a reading solution where students with low vision could read for an extended period of time without eye fatigue. A solution where their ability to distinguish among letters was not dependent upon print size, contrast, lighting, color, or font style. Where skimming or rereading a paragraph or page wouldn’t be cause for frustration or eye strain. Where students could easily discern the subtleties of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraph layout. Imagine a reading option in which individuals didn’t have to hold the book close to their face or hunch over a tablet screen in…

2 Comments

Published November 13, 2015

Top 100 Picture Books with Image Descriptions Now in Bookshare

Images and image descriptions provide a full multi-sensory reading experience for young readers. Where the Wild Things Are. Make Way for Ducklings. The Snowy Day. Corduroy. These classic books, and the rest of the Top 100 Picture Books, are well-loved tales that have been treasured and shared by grandparents, parents, and children alike. Their engaging stories and heartwarming illustrations bring characters and action to life in a rich, multi-sensory experience for young children. Educators and parents know how important books are for the earliest readers. Getting kids “hooked on books” through that classic bedtime picture book has profound…

Leave a Comment

Author: Laura Deck, Bookshare Communications